Fertilization of rabbit oocytes co-cultured with granulosa cells.
Rabbit ovarian oocytes co-cultured with granulosa cells were transferred for fertilization to the oviducts of recipient does. Oocytes with cumulus cells and membrana granulosa cells were isolated before or 3 h after hCG injection. Granulosa cells did not prevent the resumption of meiosis but the time sequence of nuclear maturation was retarded by about 3 h. When oocytes were isolated from FSH-stimulated ovaries and cultured with only their cumulus cells or with cumulus and granulosa cells of the same origin, non-decondensed sperm heads were detected in about 30% oocytes after fertilization. Culture of FSH-stimulated oocytes with granulosa cells isolated 3 h after hCG injection substantially enhanced the development of male pronuclei to 88.2% and regular cleavage to 85.2% 10 h and 20 h after transfer, respectively. Further improvement was observed if the oocytes and their co-cultured granulosa cells had been exposed to hCG for 3 h.
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008540:Meiosis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000637:transplantation; D010063:Ovum / Q000254:growth & development*; D011817:Rabbits
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone